Useful Summer

Above: Earl Grey with her mentor and the Jester Calabazas (a work of art that previous Methods students know!). They are standing in the Spanish Baroque Gallery in the Cleveland Museum of Art.

I received an email from an alum sharing the news that she has been accepted to a grad program (Yay!). This happy report reminded me how important it is for students and recent grads to use summer as a way to make a difference and push yourself toward a professional goal. Take a peek at GCVA's post on May 2, asking and answering the question of what to do with an art degree.

Where could you begin this process of taking up a useful summer? Those of you interested in museum careers should consider purchasing/borrowing/acquiring Elizabeth Schlatter's Museum Careers A Practical Guide for Students and Novices. It's a phenomenal resource that still has relevance, even though published in 2008.

If you're not sure what you'd like to do down the road, or if you've graduated and are working in a non-art or non-museum field, but really want to stay connected, consider serving as an intern, short-term or long-term and paid or unpaid. Information on the internship process at Georgetown College is located here. Within our department we offer internship experiences, primarily through the art galleries, and there are other opportunities available on campus and off, including area museums such as Cardome, the Scott County Museum, Ward Hall, and further afield in Lexington. If you're interested in a hands-on experience that will enable you to move beyond book-work and engage in a field and take responsibility, consider an internship! Start by reviewing your schedule this summer to see what you can realistically accomplish -- paid or unpaid -- and the number of hours. Give some thought to what you'd like to experience. Locate a potential site, and begin emailing/calling to make contact with the organization. While on the one hand, this process requires a lot of independence and initiative, the rewards can be great. For evidence of this, check out Devon's "reflective rant" as she calls it.

If you're interested in knowing the financial side of thing, that is, income down the road, check out The Chronicle of Higher Education's recent story by Beckie Supiano that studies and analyzes earnings based upon majors. The article title is: What Are You Going to Do With That?

Enjoy your summer -- and make it a useful one!

PS: I tried to locate a photo of me at my first internship, many moons ago at the Dayton Art Institute. Since I could not find that, I wanted to share an image of me with my mentor, an esteemed professor from Case Western Reserve University. A visit last week to the Cleveland Museum of Art with him provided an opportunity to banter about works of art. While it's not an internship photo, per se, it is one that gives evidence of a useful summer through engagement and learning!

art games

As a follow-up to an earlier post, here's a link to an article concerning a recent development addressing, in part, that nagging question, "what is art?".  According to the author (who describes it as "pretty damn cool"), it seems that videogames are now art: "The US National Endowment for the Arts now considers videogames eligible for artistic funding, legally recognizing them as an art form."  Is this a good thing GC::VA friends?  What do you think? 

Internship: Paid in Gtown

Graphic Design students, contact Mike Scogin, President and Publisher, Georgetown Newspapers, Inc.
mscogin@news-graphic.com asap!!! He has a full-time position available asap until mid-to-late July. The person needs to have:
--a working knowledge of Apple computers.
--a good knowledge of Adobe Creative Suite, especially Indesign and
Photoshop. A knowledge of Illustrator is a plus, but not critical
--Self discipline and maturity
This position will be creating ads for the newspaper and its publications,
as well as working with commercial printing customers. Some work on the
website may be possible. Pay depends upon experience.

See Seniors!

Be sure to check out the Cochenour Gallery for a sneak PREVIEW of what's to come next academic year.  The exhibition features work by Fall 2011 and 2012 Senior Art Students: art history thesis proposal by Bess McHone; paintings by Danielle Cinderella and Devon Stivers; photographs by Evelyn Fuson, Dana Sabato and Ryley Vaughn; and prints by April Jouett and Mark Terrell Taylor.

And, speaking of Seniors, come CELEBRATE with 2011 graduates at the closing reception for their exhibition, ... and everything nice this THURSDAY, MAY 12, 5-7PM with Art Alum Re-connect at 4--talk to GC Art Grads and find out what they're up to!  

Congratulations!

tattoo copyright

I thought this was an interesting issue of authenticity (a topic that has come up a lot this semester).  I think the world of tattoo is a shifting platform when it comes to authenticity. If I provided the design who does it below to artistically?  This same idea comes up often in academia where students are provided projects.  Lets say I give a student an assignment, a direction, restrictions and expectations...is it really the students work?

Full story available HERE.

Victor Whitmill, who did Mike Tyson's infamous facial tattoo in 2003, is suing Warner Bros. for copyright infringement in pirating his tattoo design "without attempting to contact [him], obtain his permission, or credit his creation"; he seeks damages and an injunction to stop the use of the tattoo in the film--which is essentially a big part of the movie. I am really curious to see how this plays out since the movie is set to release on memorial day.  

 

AHRECO will re-co-nvene in the Fall

Thanks to everyone who has joined us -- once or multiple times -- for the Reading Group.

We'll re-convene in the Fall with a new selection of readings. Two readings that we didn't have time for this semester will be put on the docket (architectural reading compliments of Boris and a world-class selection written by John Berger).

Have suggestions? Let Dr. Decker know or post them below as "comments."

Thanks, again, to James Rye for the image that has become our "AHRECO" icon this semester.

Last Day of Classes!

Come celebrate at the Art Majors and Alum Cookout TONIGHT! 6-8 pm at Dr. Decker's

See earlier post here!

Talkin' GC Art Guest Speakers!

Here are a couple of pictures from last night's guided tour with equine artist Jaime Corum.

Check out Jaime's website and don't miss Horse Sensibility: Works by Jaime Corum on view in the Cochenour Gallery through May 8 (in time for some Derby Day inspiration)!

Since we're talkin' horses this week, some of you may remember The Exquisite Equine: Portrait of a Horse exhibition in the Anne Wright Wilson Gallery last fall, and photographer Sarah Hoskins, who came to GC to speak with Professor Kincer's class and the community on September 30, 2010.  Well, CONGRATULATIONS SARAH, for receiving an NPR Award for Homeplace, her photo documentary on the African-American Hamlets in Kentucky's Inner Bluegrass Region!  

And, since some of us might be bettin' horses this week, here's one of Sarah's "Backside" series photographs, featured in the Exquisite Equine show, for luck.

Sarah Hoskins, Horse and Towels, 1995, gelatin silver print, 9" x 12", Courtesy of the Artist

what to do with an art degree

I often get the question of "what can I do with an art degree?"  SOOO MANY THINGS.  I often respond with "what can I you do with a business degree?"

An art degree opens up so many opportunities.  If you ever want to know what some of our graduates have done make sure to ask a faculty member since the list is getting longer.  But we have had students become graphic designers, web designers, fashion pattern collectors, grad students in a number of focal areas.

But I ran across this firm of specific designers and just had to share. They work specifically with Animates Movie Title Sequences. Here are few of there works you may already be familiar with.




You can see more HERE.
From the source monamoda.com (In case you`re interested and seeking more detailed or technical information, inspiration or approach during design process, check out these sites: www.artofthetitle.com orwww.watchthetitles.com. Enjoy them full screen and out loud!)

It's that time of year...Art Majors and Alumni Cookout @ Dr. Decker's House

All art majors who have officially declared their major, and all alums, are invited to join the art faculty and their families for the annual Department Cookout. We'll convene on Wednesday, the last day of classes. That's May 4th from 6-8pm. We'll grill out, join in conversation, and take turns preventing the sabotage of my sunflower seedlings. Please come! Address: 125 Heminway Place, behind Bruster's and Pizza Hut. Directions

In case of bad weather, check the blog for rain location. But, let's think positively!

Alumni -- please join us, too, for the May 12 event in the Anne Wright Wilson, planned by Boris.

Huge thanks to Rebecca Redding for designing the invitation again :) Superstar!